Musical instrument



Feb. 19, 1929.

R. W. CLABORNE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT F119@ nay 2e, 1927 ATTORNEY PatentedFeb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,702,643 PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT W. CLAIBORNE, OF NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT.

MUSICAL I TSTRUMENT.

Application filed May 28,

The present invention relates to an improved musical instrument moreparticularly of the harp type, one object being to provide a harp ofrelatively simple and inexpensive construction to be used in connectionwith musical instruction. There are certain musical qualitiescharacteristic of the harp which make it very pleasing and highlydesirable but the complexity of its construction and its consequentrelatively high cost make it impractical for general or extended. useparticularly by pupils or students of moderate means. One of my objectsin connection with this invention has been to prof'ide a constructionwhich will not only have the characteristic musical qualities of theharp but which will also be so simple and rugged that students caneasily make it and so inexpensive that practically any one can afford tohave it. It is contemplated that this ture will tend to bring harp musicinto a wider field of use.

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the drawingsaccompanying the presentspeciiication and in which Figure 1 is a. sideelevation;

Figure 2, a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3, a top plan view illustrating th, construction of the top orcross member; ant

Figure 4, a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a harp embodying my invention comprises abase or pedestal 1, a sound box 2, an upright 3, and a cross member 4. Ablock 5 projects upwardly from the upper surface of base 1 and serves asa means by which the sound box 2 is secured to said base. It will benoted that the bottom and side panels of sound box 2 are fastened toblock 5 by any suitable means such as screws 6, while the sound board 7or top wall of the sound box 2 does not touch said block. The base 1 hasa recess 8 into which the lower end of upright 3 is fastened, as by glueor other suitable means, the upper end of said upright being preferablyof tapered or pointed shape and adapted to extend into and through asquare or other suitably sh ped channel extending through the forwardend of cross member 4. The rear end of cross member 4 is provided with ablock 10 to which upper end portions of the sides and bottoni of soundbox 2 are secured by means of screws or other suitable connecting`devices i1. Here again, the sound board 7 is spaced away from 1927.Serial No. 194,878.

the forward face of said block 1l. A pin or detent 12 is mounted withits ends extending beyond opposec faces of upright 3 and in position toengage and limit downward movement of cross member 4, so that, when theparts are assembled, they will occupy substantially the relativepositions indicated in Figure 1.

A longitudinal rib 13 is secured to the upper exposed face ol soundboard 7 and is provided with a plurality of openings 14 by means ofwhich the lower ends of strings, 15 are secured in operative position.Openings 16 in the cross member 4 receive friction deps 17 adapted toretain the upper ends of pegs being also adapted to i rrings 15, sait.Ke turned by band to tighten or loosen the strings for purposes oftuning or otherwise. iis indicated more clearly in Fifrure 3, the crossmember 4 is provided with a longitudinal slot 9 within which the stringretaining portions of the pegs 17 are exposed. This arrangement aflordsa simple and inexpensive device for effectively securing the strings andadjusting their tension in tuning.

As indicated in Figure 1, the sound box 2 in side elevation tapers froma slightly wider lower portion to a. narrower upper portion. Asindicated in Figure 4, the sound box in front elevation also tapers froma relatively greater dimension at its lower end to a smaller dimensionat its upper end and is of angular cross sectional contour in all parts.One or more holes as 13 permit passage of sound waves through the soundboard 7 In assembling the parts hereinabove described, the base 1 andsound box 2 are secured together by means of screws 6 cooperating withthe block o; the upright 3 is inserted in socket 8 of the base 1; andcross member 4 is positioned with the outer end channel engaging theupper end of the upright 3 fitting down thereon until stopped by the pindetent 12. The rear end of cross member 4 is secured to the upper end ofsound b 11: 2 by means of screws 11 engaging bloeit 10. Properlyselected strings are provided positioned with their lower ends tied tothe rib 13 and with their upper ends secured to the friction pegs 1'?.Vhen the strings are tightened, they serve to hold the cross member 4 inoperative position with respect to upright 3 and detent 12.

In mi a. sound box suitable for the harp constriction hereinabovedescribed, I have found that the proportions of the several partsthereof are important in the production of sounds of musical Value. Forexample, in a small harp, the depth of the sound box increases graduallyfrom 11/2 inches at a top portion to 2 inches at a lower portion distant25 inches therefrom. In other Words, there will be a taper of l@ inch in25 inches. Also, the width of the interior of the sound box increasesfrom 31/2 inches to 45/8 inches in the same length. In largerinstruments similar proportions will be found desirable.

As indicated in Figures 3 and 4, the cross member t is provided with alongitudinal slot across which extend intermediate portions of the pegs1'? to which the upper ends of the strings l5 are secured, Thisarrangement aiords a sufficiently rigid anchoring for the strings toeffectively maintain any desired tension thereon. At the same time, itavoids the necessity 'for using metal string tensioning parts whichwould unduly add to the cost and complicate the construction of aninstrument for the uses contemplated as will be apparent from anexamination of well known forms of harp construction.

I claim as my invention:

l. A musical instrument of the harp type comprising a base, a sound box,an upright, a cross member having one end secured to Said sound box andthe other Iend slidably engaging said upright, a detent on said uprightto limit downward movement of said other end ot the cross member, andstrings stretched between said cross member and said sound box.

Q. A musical instrun'icnt of the harp type comprising a sound box havinga sound board, a rib secured to a portion or' the outer surface of saidboard and extending longitudinally thereof, a cross member haring oneend secured to the upper end or said sound box and provided with alongitudinal slot, 'friction pegs extending across said slot, and aplurality of strings each having one end secured to one of said pegs andthe other end secured to said rib.

3. A musical instrument of the harp type comprising a base, a sound boxsecured thereto, a cross member having one end secured to the sound boxand a channel extending through the other enc., an upright having itslower `end engaging said base and its upper end extending through andengaging the channel in said cross member, and strings positionedbetween the said sound box and said cross member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this24th day of May, 1927.

ROBERT `W. CLAIBORNE.

